SINGAPORE (APP) – Oil prices held steady in Asia Monday after an interest rate cut by China boosted demand hopes in the world’s top energy consumer, while a healthy US jobs report also provided support, analysts said.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for June delivery eased eight cents to $59.31 while Brent crude for June rose two cents to $65.41 in late-morning trade.
China’s central bank on Sunday cut its key rates by 25 basis points — after two similar moves since November — as it looks to support the world’s number two economy, which grew last year at its slowest pace since 1990.
The move is the latest stimulus by the People’s Bank of China, which has also twice this year reduced the amount of cash lenders must keep in reserve.
“The stimulus in the economy from the cuts is positive and is likely to boost demand in the Chinese economy,” Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC markets in Sydney, told AFP.
“We expect the trading volume for crude to go up later today and the prices to increase further,” he added.
Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Asia-Pacific oil and gas practice at business consultancy firm EY, said oil prices were also “helped by strong US jobs growth and a lower unemployment rate”.
A US Labor Department report Friday showed the economy added 223,000 jobs in April and unemployment fell to a seven-year low of 5.4 percent.
Analysts have said the figures are strong enough to suggest the economy was picking up but not enough that the US Federal Reserve would feel comfortable raising interest rates soon.
Interest rate adjustments are closely watched by crude investors as an increase usually leads to a pick-up in the dollar.
A stronger greenback makes dollar-priced oil more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies, denting demand.
